Mary Roberts Barron named Clemson Alumni Association’s Volunteer of the Year

Mary Roberts Barron of Clemson has been chosen by the Clemson Alumni Association to receive the 2023 Frank Kellers III Volunteer of the Year Award, an accolade that acknowledges outstanding volunteerism and service to Clemson University.

Barron was selected for her extensive support of both the alumni association and the university, as well as her steadfast advocacy for initiatives promoting Clemson. Graduating with a degree in financial management from Clemson in 1978, she furthered her education by earning a master’s in art & teaching-English from Winthrop in 1992. Before pursuing her teaching degree, Barron had a successful career in Marketing at BellSouth in Raleigh, NC. She later transitioned to teaching English for 18 years at Highland School of Technology and Clover High School. In 2017, Barron and her husband, Charles Barron ’76, moved to Clemson, where she began volunteering at Clemson Community Care.

Barron’s involvement expanded as she became a volunteer and board member with the Ft. Hill Clemson Club, taking on roles such as membership and communication chair, vice president, and eventually, club president. During her tenure, she orchestrated the 2023 Ft. Hill Recruiting Wrap-Up event, which raised $100,000 for the Ft. Hill Clemson Club Endowment. This endowment benefits students in Pickens and Oconee Counties attending Clemson.

A former Tiger Band Twirler, Barron is presently serving a six-year term on the Clemson University Tiger Band Association Board, the alumni branch of the university band. She played a pivotal role in organizing the 2023 Tiger Band Reunion.

Beyond her volunteer contributions at Clemson, Barron has dedicated herself to various church and community leadership roles in Belmont, NC, and Clemson. In addition to herself and her husband, Charles, Barron’s two daughters, Katie Barron Hubbard and Meg Barron Denham, also graduated from Clemson.

The Clemson Alumni Association has presented the Frank Kellers III Volunteer of the Year Award annually since 1988 to show recognition and appreciation to individuals who have a passion for service and building the Clemson family. The award is named for Frank Kellers III, a member of Clemson’s Class of 1957.

The Clemson Alumni Association, an open-membership, nonprofit organization since its inception in 1896, connects members of the more than 154,000-strong Clemson family, inspiring pride, celebrating achievement, providing service and strengthening relationships with Clemson University and each other.